Air Cabin Crew Members - a List of Duties & Requirements

A crew member has a range of responsibilities, most of these being related to passenger safety. Additionally, air cabin crew also offer drinks and food to the passengers, and offer duty-free goods for purchase.

Passenger safety

1. Flight briefing

Before each flight, cabin crew will be present at a safety briefing with the aircraft pilots and lead cabin crew member.

2. Flight safety check

The cabin crew will carry out a check of all safety devices before the flight.

3. Loading baggage

Flight baggage is checked for weight, size as well as any potentially dangerous goods.

4. Safety demonstration

Air cabin crew have to perform a safety demonstration prior to every flight, or monitor passenger viewing when there is a safety video in place.

5. Secure the cabin

The last task prior to takeoff is to check that all tray tables are folded up, all seats are in up-right positions, armrests are down, hand baggage is stored properly and seat belts are fastened.

6. Regular cabin inspections

Air cabin crew need to listen for any strange sounds and watch out for any strange situations in flight.

7. Emergencies

An air crew member will be trained to manage many different types of emergency situations. First Aid skills are very important.

Customer Service

1. Flight briefing

During this briefing, air crew are informed on passengers with special requirements, and thus will assist them in getting onto the aircraft.

2. Flight tasks

The plane needs to be clean and tidy before passengers begin to board. Air crews will also have to check all meals and stock are on board, and make sure that details provided in chair pockets is up to date.

3. Welcome passengers on-board

Air cabin crews should welcome passengers on board, and be sure that they can leave the aircraft safely at the end of the flight.

4. Serve in-flight refreshments

Throughout the flight, crew will serve passengers with food, drinks and light snacks.

5. Offer duty-free items for purchase

Products including cologne, tobacco as well as alcohol are offered on-board for passengers to buy. Air cabin crew will also inform them on allowance restrictions.

6. Post-flight tasks

Air cabin crew must clean and tidy the plane, and check there's no luggage left inside overhead lockers.

Air Cabin Crew Requirements

There is a number of specific requirements for those who wish to become air cabin crew members. These include things such as possessing a passport, being in good health and being able to swim.

Passport

If applying as a crew member to a UK airline, you then will have to provide proof of entitlement to live and work in the UK, as well as hold a legitimate European union or United kingdom passport allowing global travel with no constraints.

Education

The majority of airlines require that crew candidates have a minimum of four G.C.S.E.s at grade C or higher, two of these G.C.S.E.s being in English and Maths. If you do not have these requirements however have gone through higher education, virtually all airlines will accept your crew application. Furthermore, if you don't have these grades but do have excellent customer service experience, grades will usually be overlooked.

Overall health

If you want to become a crew member, then good health is vital. If you're successful in your application, you can more than likely expect to go through a medical assessment. It is also worth noting that weight and height restrictions are in place, and additionally, in case your eyesight isn't perfect, then you will be required to use glasses or contact lenses.

Ability to swim

Successful crew candidates will have to show that they're able to swim at least twenty-five meters, with some airlines thirty.

Customer service experience

Airlines always make customers their highest priority, and therefore seek crew members who've had experience in customer service jobs.

Recruitment

The majority of UK airlines follow the same recruitment procedure. Crew candidates will need to send their CV/application form either on the web or in the post. When all the applications have been received, the airline will make a short-list of applicants to invite for interview. The interview will usually be with two interviewers, and may require that the crew candidate conducts a short presentation. English and Maths tests will also have to be taken by the applicant.

The writer works closely with J.A.R.E , a company who provide training for air cabin crew jobs from their own purpose built airline and airport training centre.

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